Thaddeus faiebanks



(No Model.)

Ti EAIRBANKS.

FEED WATER HEATER.

Patented Feb. Z3, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

THADDEUS FAIRBANKS, OF ST. JOHNSBUR'IY, VERMONT.

FEED-WATER HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,802, dated February 23, 1886. Application filed November 30, 1885. Serial No. 184,306. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, THADnEUs FAIRBANKS, of St. J ohnsbury, Caledonia county, `in the State of Vermont, have invented a certain new-and useful Improvement relating to Feed- Vater Heaters. It is intended more particularly for heating the feed-water of locomotiveengines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

I have devised a simple and convenient heater, which may be arranged immediately below the barrel of the boiler and parallel thereto, and iu which the exhaust-steam is circulated through pipes with a degree of positiveness and vigor not ordinarily attainable, while the pipes are free to expand and contract, and the apparatus is capable of being easily applied together and taken apart to allow of examination, cleaning, and repairs.

The heating agent is the exhaust-steam. I use so much thereof as is necessary to effect the thorough heating of the water, the remainder being disposed of in any other ordinary or suitable manner. Itis usually ejected strongly upY the chimney to promote the draft.

I have not deemed it necessary to represent, and will not further describe, the provisions for obtaining the exhaust-steam. I will represent and describe it as received into my apparatus through two pipes of sufficient caliber, one leading from thc exhaust-pipe (not represented) on one side, and the other leading from the exhaust-pipe (not represented) on the other side, of the locomotive.

The following is adescription of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure lis a central vertical section through my heater. A portion of the barrel of the boiler is shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the end which lies at the right hand in Fig. l, and which, it will be understood, is toward the front of the locomotive. Fig. 3 is a View of the inner face of the casting which applies on this end. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portion on the line x x in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the irregularline g/ y in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line z z in Fig. l. Fig. 7 shows a modication. It is a central vertical section through the entire heater.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

A is a cylindrical casing, A the front end; A2, the rear end, and A3 a partial horizontal partition.

B is an end casting, certain parts of which will be designated, when necessary, by addtional marks, as B B2. Itis peculiarly chambered. Its whole interior is filled by the exhaust-steam and the water produced by the condensation thereof. The arrangement provides for the easy and prompt discharge of the water with a small quantity of the steam. The conditions maintain a lively circulation through the chambers in this casting, and through the connected pipes. The fresh exhaust-steam coming in through the pipes O is received in chambers b. (See Figs. l, 2, 4, and 5.) It thence iiows through the orifices b* into the horizontal chambers b', and thence into the several pipes, which are immersed in the cold water in the heater.

D D are pipes leading from chambers b. They receive each strong intermittent or pulsating currents of exhaust-steam in the direc'- tion indicated by the short thick arrows.

D are return-bends, and D2 are pipes-conimunicating between D and the chambers b2.

The feed-water is received from the pump (not represented) through the pipe E", and traverses the whole length of the heater in contact with the lowermost tiers of the steamheated pipes DD2. The partially-heated feedwater moves upward past the end of the partial partition A3, and traverses again the length of the heater incontact with the middle and uppermost tiers of pi pes,D D2. It flows out through the pipe El, raised to a temperature nearly up to that of the exhaust-steam, a little above 212o Fahrenheit.

G is a drip-pipe communicating with the chamber b4, which extends up and 4down and communicates through apertures b3 with the A moves by gravity and by the current of thev chambers b?. The pipes D D'l are slightly inclined, as shown. The water of condensation steam through the pipes D2, chambers b, and holes b into the contracted upright chamber b, whence it escapes through the pipe G. There is a stop-cock or other provision, g, for varying the area of the passage of escape through the pipe G.

It is important not only to allow all the water of condensation to escapei'reely, but also a small quantity of uncondensed steam should so escape. This will insure that the apparatus does not become inefficient through the presence of air instead of steam in the chambers.

A* are stout rings or frames, of wroughtiron, soft steel, or other suitable material, to afford strength to aid in producing a strong tight connection ofthe casing A and the respective end plates, A A2. I propose to secure the rings A* to the cylinder A by rivets A5, and then to attach the end plate A at one end and the end plate A'l and the casting B at the other end by bolts A5. The chamber bis, for convenience of manufacture, made to open out into the open air through the upper end. The 'orice is tapped and is afterward tightly closed by a screw-plug.

My invention makes an unusually reliable and efficient steam-heater, adapted to be supported by any suitable straps or frames close under the barrel of the boiler. The active cir culation of the exhaust-steam through the pipes, and the thorough presentation of the feed-water thereto allows it to serve with unusual efciency. My heater is capable of raising the temperature of full feed from freezing to a point closely approximating the temperature of the exhaust-steam, and without requiring to beso large as to add materially to the weight or cost of the locomotive. Its position under the barrel of the boiler makes it inconspicuous and does not in the least interfere with the symmetrical appearance ofthe structure.

M is the lower port-ion of the barrel of the boiler. It will be understood that the boiler is lof the ordinary form and arrangement of a l0- comotive-boiler, the barrel being level. My heater is adapted to serve efiiciently while lying parallel thereto and mounted close under it.

D3 are single pipes extending nearly the whole length of theinterior ofthe latter. Each is in communication with a chamber, b, and is divided through a good portion of its length by a horizontal partition. The steam can circulate in these pipes and be condensed and discharged with some effect, but not nearly as efficient] y as in the pipes D D2 and their connecting return-bends D, because the latter operate by a positive current ofthe steam. The reception of fresh exhaust-steam through the chamber b and Y the connection of the intermediate chambers, b2, with the drip-passage insures a strong current moving backward through each pipe D', downward through each returnbend D, and forward through each pipe D2.

I attach importance to the construction as allowing the heater to extend horizontally under the boiler and in close proximity thereto, with assurance of active circulation of the steam through the structure.

In cold weather, and in first starting, the stop-cock g in the pipe G should be liberally opened. When the apparatus is warmer,this may be partially closed. YIn lieu thereof or in conjunction therewith there may a cock or valve controlling the flow of the exhauststeam through each ofthe pipes C.

The end casting, B, is important in reenforcing and strengthening the adjacent end of the heater,which is greatly weakened by being bored to receive the pipes. It will be observed that each of the partitions between the horizontal chambers b b`l presses directly against the end of the heater, and tends greatly to strengthen the weakened plate against the internal pressure to which it is subjected under the strong action of the pump in forcing the water through this into the boiler.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions. I can use a greater orless number of the several pipes D D2 and their connecting bends D. There may be the same number of tiers below as above the partition A3. The single pipes D3 may be omitted. The

horizontal partition A3 may be varied in form.

Fig. 7 shows a modification in which a perforated pipe performs the function of the partition A3, compelling the current of water received through the pipe E to traverse a great portion of the length ot` the heater and back again. I have shown the perforated pipe in this iigure as somewhat contracted in diameter at its open end. This induces such conditions that when the pump is working actively a large proportion keeps in the line of the axis of the pipe, and iiows out at the eX- treme end; but other streams escape through the perforations. The conditions are favorable to the thorough heating of the whole. There maybe circumstances under which this mode of distributing water into the heater would be of advantage. For general use I prefer the forms and proportions substantially as shown in the previous iigures.

I claim as my invention- 1. The casing A A A2, partial partition A, pipes D D2, and return-bends D, steanrconnections C, drip-connection G, and water-connections E E2, combined and arranged to serve relatively to each other and to the barrel M of a locomotive, substantiail y as herein specified.

2. The casting B, having the steam-dis tributing chambers b, passages bili, distributing-chambers b', receiving-chambers b2, passages lf', and discharge-chambers b, arranged y to serve relatively to the steam-pipes C, drip ICO pipe G, pipes D D2, and provisions for circu- In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my lating water in the spaces between, substanhand, at St. Johnsbury, this 20th day of Notially as herein specified. veniber, 1885, in the presence of two subscrib- 3. The horizontal easing A, steam end ing witnesses. 5 plate A, water end plate A2, partial partition A3, ring A4, rivets A5, and bolts A6, in eombi- THADDEUS FAIRBAN KS. nation with each other, and with the end easting, B, return-bends D, pipes D D2, and pipes Witnesses: C G E E2, all arranged for joint operation, as HENRY FAIRBANKS, xo herein specied. LUCY WEBBER. 

